The Manicou Report

Shorts

Grandmother on Charges

Grandmother Jean Campbell appeared before a Sangre Grande Magistrate yesterday charged with the unlawful killing of her twin grandchildren Tyler and Tylin Campbell. Also charged was the baby-sitter Ingrid Durity.

Mrs. Campbell did a horrible, horrible thing in leaving a six year old to care for two toddlers. I can’t begin to guess what she was thinking when she did that. Especially in this day and age where trouble is everywhere. Without a doubt she knew it was wrong to leave them alone, yet, as with a lot of people, she thought nothing bad will happen.

At the same time I can’t help but feel sorry for her. I guess though, it’s probably more pity that than anything else. Everyone screws up sometimes. Unlike most other people, I screw up everyday and sometimes several times a day. Whatever I do wrong though, it’s not that bad, usually it’s only me who has to clean up the broken glass or apologise to Earl for calling him Fabian. However having two children die as a result of a decision I made is hopefully something I will never have to deal with. And I guess that’s part of the reason I pity her a bit. It’s a harsh lesson to have to learn especially with the court of public opinion bearing down on you. Leaving children to care for children is not something that’s new to Trinidad. In fact it’s something that happens around the world regularly. But it’s an invitation for tragedy to strike, and tragedy, in this regard, is capricious. It doesn’t care if it was Mrs. Campbell’s 1st or 15th time doing this sort of thing. And suddenly she’s gone from a doting grandmother to a criminal suspect. As I said it’s a harsh lesson to learn.

My heart goes out to the six-year-old sister who will probably be scarred for life all because one person made a bad decision. Poor girl.

Job Satisfaction

On the topic of pity, I pity people who are just out-of-touch with reality. Among those are those who suffer with mental illness. I feel sorry for those who are just so out of their minds they’re not a part of the world they live in. And yet it’s entirely possible to be out of touch with reality and still have all your marbles. Let me lay it out for you.

• Case in point: Patrick Manning.
• The Country: Trinidad & Tobago
• The Scenario: High Food Prices, Record Crime, Breakdown in Social Services, Out-of-Control Government spending.
• The Synopsis: The recipe for job satisfaction.

Say what?

Patrick Manning

Speaking at a breakfast meeting hosted by the Office of the Prime Minister at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Port of Spain, Mr. Manning was gushing about the job satisfaction he receives. Surely being Prime Minister makes him feel good. Surely he gets job satisfaction, but is he satisfied with his job? It seems like such an arrogant thing to say. If one really considers all the implications of his statement. Lets for one minute assume that he meant that being Prime Minister made him feel good. Can he really feel good about it in light of the fact that it’s falling apart around him? If I am in charge of a swimming pool and day after day the water level drops, the water becomes murky, and people drown in the water, do I have any right to say I have “job satisfaction”, despite which meaning I associate with it? How can I be proud of my position if I’m failing it?

Posted in Crime, PNM, Politics, Social Issues | No Comments »

Righteous Anger

dom•i•nate - v. (also: dom•i•nat•ed, dom•i•nat•ing, dom•i•nates)

1. To control, govern, or rule by superior authority or power.
2. To exert a supreme, guiding influence on or over.

There are some people in Trinidad who would say anything that came to mind, be it intelligent or not. And Selwyn Cudjoe is not only a member of that club, he’s president. (Well he’s actually shares the presidency with other member/presidents like Basdeo Panday.)

Selwyn Cudjoe

I’m saying this because I really don’t care very much for Selwyn Cudjoe. I have never, never liked the man. I understand that his organization the National Association for the Empowerment of African People (NAEAP) is dedicated to helping people, and I am all for that. I’m in favour of any organization that will help the disadvantaged. However, my problem with Mr. Cudjoe is the manner in which he provides this service. Somehow, Mr. Cudjoe, never fails to surprise me with how foolish he can be.

My recent concern comes from a story in the Express yesterday where Dr. Cudjoe is at his best. Speaking at the NAEAP’s eighth annual Emancipation dinner at the Centre of Excellence, Mr. Cudjoe enlightened the attendees as to the reason behind the “turmoil that we see in our society today”. Said he:

So that all the turmoil that we see in our society today not only represents a relentless struggle on the part of the East Indians to dominate the society; it also suggests that the agents of their group are prepared to utilise any means-be they legal, political, academic or religious-to achieve ethnic dominance that constitutes the essence of the conflict that we see in Trinidad and Tobago today

Let me add to what Dr. Cudjoe said by writing my own speech.

The Indians are attempting to gain dominance over the Africans in Trinidad & Tobago. Africans rise up and combat the Indians who are trying to rule us. It’s because of the Indians that we are experiencing all this turmoil. (How you define the word “turmoil” is entirely up to you. The only guideline is to choose the definition that most aggravates you). If you don’t rise up you (the Africans) will lose what the great afro-Trinidadians have tried for so many years to achieve. Remember Dr. Eric Williams? Do you want to shame him? The poor guy is dead. The Indians are stomping on his grave. Rise up Africans (weeping and self-flagellation). Defeat the Indian dominance! End the turmoil in our land! Beat back the Hun Indians. Beat them back! Control the red brown mennace!

Why does it have to be that East Indians are trying to “dominate” the country? Can’t it be that two sets of people who have differing ideas on how the Government should be run, who are both trying to grab power? There are people in this country who were fitted with blinders from birth and have gone through their entire lives wearing them. When necessary, and due to the progression of age, they get re-fitted. They live out their lives paranoid, and hateful. They don’t want unity. They want indignant loyalty. They prefer to rend than to join. They want to divide and rule. And these are the people who are most dangerous.

Dr. Cudjoe is not a fool. (Well it depends on who you ask I guess). He knows why he chose the words he did. Standing at a podium on the anniversary of Emancipation, he informs the emancipated listeners of a covert plan to re-dominate them. (Read: revisit the days of Massa and slave). Dr. Cudjoe is aware of the kinds of passions he’ll awaken in alluding to afro-Trinidadians being “dominated”. Dr. Cudjoe is by no means “empowering” afro-Trinidadians, but in fact fitting them with their own blinders.

During World War II, the U.S. Government issued scores of propaganda posters in order to rouse the public into backing the war. While propaganda for the current war in Iraq is rife, the type of posters produced then, will today never see the light of day. The Germans (a.k.a. the Huns) and the Japanese were depicted as brutal, almost non-human adversaries. These inflammatory depictions had its aim: to drum up as much fear and righteous anger as possible. The foes were going to take over their lives after all. They were going to steal their freedom and rape their women. If you were not for the war, you were for the enemy, and by extrapolation, a traitor.

And while the aim of the U.S. Government is different from the aim of Dr. Cudjoe and those of his ilk, the method is the same. Convince the masses that there is imminent danger from people who are different from them. Convince them that it imperative for them to band together and to unite to deal the enemy a fatal blow. Do you think it’s that different? It much more similar than some may admit. It’s all about wining a war for your minds. People like Mr. Panday and Mr. Sat Maharaj do it too. They convince you that you have to pick sides or you will lose your freedom. Under the guise of emancipating, leaders like them re-enslave their follower with fear and suspicion. Do they really care about Trinidad & Tobago? I’m yet to be convinced. If, however, you would read between their lines, you’ll discover that neither should you.

Posted in PNM, Politics, Race, Social Issues | 3 Comments »

Courts, You Shouldn’t

So last night I am standing in my kitchen (preparing a delicious Ramen Noodle dinner, mind you) when to my utter surprise I think I hear Christmas bells coming from the TV. So immediately I think that I’m wrong and that it must be something else. I’m thinking it’s just August 3rd, there’s no way there

can be an ad for a Christmas sale this early in the year. I also remember that TSTT has a “Bundles of Joy” ad for their TSTT Smart Choice packages that kind of sounds like a Christmas carol, so surely it must be one of those deals. I therefore go into the living room to investigate and there in all it’s red Christmas glory is a Christmas ad for courts. Say what?

Now when people talk about the over-commercialization of Christmas this is a prime example. Here is a mighty furniture and electronics store, five months before the actual date selling Christmas to us. And I’m sitting here wondering why? I don’t know about anyone else but Christmas is something special to me. That whole period has it own smells, climate, cheer, tastes, music and anything else not available at any other time of year. So when a furniture giant sees it fit to start Christmas festivities on any day they please, it dismays me. And then it dawns on me why on so many Christmases past, I no longer felt anticipation for the day. And on Christmas day itself, I’m already tired of it - all because a furniture store wants to sell more blenders.

To some this may seem like a juvenile rant, but can Courts really do that? Can they really draw out, and as a result spoil the holiday for those of us who savour the days leading up to it? Why do they think it’s fit to play music with “jingle bells” and talk about shopping early in time to qualify for Christmas prizes? Can they just completely change the mood and tempo of Trinidad to suit it’s own financial calender? I don’t know about anyone else, but that really, really irks me.

Posted in Christmas, Corporate | 3 Comments »

Proof-Reading for Dummies

While there are many reasons to proof read a story to be published in a national newspaper, such as spelling and grammer accuracy ,

Shazard Mohammed

equally as important is that the story makes sense. Take for example this story published on the Internet Express (and God forbid on the actual paper). The story entitled “Charlieville residents continue protest in pouring rain” starts off with the horrific breaking news that shot fisherman Shazard Mohammed had died. “Shocking and horrifying,” I begin to think. However, just two paragraphs later, journalist Keino Swamber decides against killing off his main character and instead upgrades him to a “critical condition”. I’m as much into the plot twist as the next man, but aren’t we taking liberties with the news here even just a teensy weensy bit? The excerpts from the story are as follows:

Charlieville residents continued their protest over the killing of resident Shazard Mohammed, who was shot in the head and arm by Coast Guard officers on Saturday, on Monday night, even while the rain poured.

Hundreds braved the inclement weather and converged onto the South-bound lane of the Uriah Butler Highway, shouting for justice for the young father of one.

Mohammed, 25, of Francis Lalla Road, Charlieville, remained in a critical condition at the Port of Spain General Hospital up to late yesterday…

…Mohammed’s father, Fareed, told the Express yesterday that his son remained unconscious but stable…

“I only want him to come back into this world,” Fareed said.

“He fighting for his life and I fighting for him to come back into this world…”

Uhh….say what?? Proof read dread, proof read. You have yuh big wuk, well oh gosh, try and doh confuse the res’ ah we nah.

Posted in Crime, Miscellaneous | 5 Comments »

Chief Justice’s Injunction Lifted

Sat Sharma

Well the good thing about the Chief Justice’s injunction being lifted is the fact that his arrest can begin the process of fact-finding. If the only immediate effect of his arrest will be to create atmosphere that is remarkably less tense, then I welcome it whole-hartedly.

Surely the CJ didn’t think that he could bury his head in the sand to have it all disappear. As I’ve said a couple times before I don’t know whether or not he is guilty, but any man against whom there is evidence and allegations of wrongdoing must have his day in court. Even for the CJ - in fact especially for the CJ who presides over the court.

To everyone ele, happy Emanicpation day!

Posted in Politics | No Comments »